RIP George Clayton Johnson

George Clayton Johnson, whose many SF contributions include the very first broadcast episode of Star Trek, died on Christmas Day aged 86.

In what his agency called “a good life and an interesting life”, Johnson wrote for Alfred Hitchcock Presents in 1959 before penning eight episodes for Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone, including Kick the Can, which was remade for the 1983 movie. He co-wrote the novel Logan’s Run with William F. Nolan, which was turned into both a movie and short-lived TV series, and wrote the short story that formed the basis of Ocean’s 11 and its many remakes and sequels. He also appeared as the villain in Roger Corman’s movie The Intruder – which starred a pre-Star Trek William Shatner in one of his most powerful roles.

He was perhaps best known for scripting The Man Trap, which wasn’t one of the two pilots prepared by Gene Roddenberry for Star Trek, but which was chosen as the opening episode on September 8, 1966.